It is probably rude to point. |
I officiated my last match on March 4, 2017.
Quitting is a little bittersweet, as I had a heck of a lot of fun as a ref, starting almost as far back as when canvas was stretched over horsehair mats. Below is a picture of me in my first year, 1987, taken by former Ventura High assistant coach Paul Garcia. Catch my rookie mistake? Yep! I had the wristbands on the wrong side! The first in a long but consistent line of officiating gaffs.
I wasn't much of a competitive wrestler, but I did enjoy the sport. I also had been on the business end of some home-cooked calls, and I thought I could do better than a lot of refs. My dad had started officiating a few years previously, and I figured it also would be fun to join him. And make a few bucks. (That turned out to be a bad financial decision!)
Over the years, I officiated matches at various levels, from kids on up to NCAA Division 1, in a lot of different venues, including California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota. I primarily called high school matches until 1998, at which time I (foolishly) decided college wrestling would be more "fun." Exciting, challenging, thrilling and intense come to mind, but I have to admit that having a gym full of crazies boo me over a call wasn't all that fun. Or some of the nose-to-nose conversations with coaches whose job depended on their win-loss record. But actually, I had a ton of fun.
I thought I would be like my friend Erwin Goldbloom and go for 50+ years. A few years ago, I would look at other refs who retired, stepped away, or just quit like a little baby, and thought, "Well, that is weird." If you love something, why stop? However, over the past couple seasons, I have experienced a few changes that were indicative of being at the end.
First was the amount of time required. Tournaments seemed like they were lasting way too many hours, the overall time commitment felt burdensome, and the travel was becoming a pain in the kiester. Not to mention feeling like I wanted to spend time with my family instead of with other peoples' kids.
First was the amount of time required. Tournaments seemed like they were lasting way too many hours, the overall time commitment felt burdensome, and the travel was becoming a pain in the kiester. Not to mention feeling like I wanted to spend time with my family instead of with other peoples' kids.
Arizona State vs Cal Poly |
Second, I started to hear coaches getting chippy more than in the past, and I have to admit that I became cranky with them. Heck, I think I penalized coaches more this last year than in all my previous years combined. (But that North Dakota coach had it coming!)
The proverbial straw on the camel's back was when I was at the NAIA National Championships a couple months ago, I got food poisoning the night before the first day, and was up all night experiencing the worst imaginable result of eating bad food. The word "nuclear" might describe how things went down. I don't know how I made it through that day, (those watching would say I didn't!) but I remember thinking, "Maybe the Good Lord is trying to tell me something."
So I told my wife that I thought I was done. Then I cautiously told a friend or two. Then I told my wife I was done, definitely.
I have too many memories to list them all here, but some do stick out . . .
Again, it is rude to point. |
Most fun dual: Defending D2 champ University of Central Oklahoma beat defending D3 champ Wartburg 17-16. Each won 5 matches, but UCO had 2 major decisions and Wartburg just 1, and it was one heck of a heated dual meet.
Now THAT'S a crossface! |
Crappiest experience: BYU kid looked like he had both the Penn's kids in a freestyle leg lace when he hit a roll, but as he was hitting the move, I saw he only had one leg. The Penn kid desperately tried to roll with him to minimize the twisting, but I was late getting the situation stopped, so his knee got tweaked pretty badly. After finally getting the situation stopped, the kid from Penn, with pain, just looked at me, holding his hands up in wonder. His coach came on the mat and said, "That is the #3 kid in the nation that you just let get hurt." He ended up as the national champ the following year, but that one bothered me for a while.
Best wrestler: Stephen Abas. That guy was a wizard on his feet. He would warm up doing these acrobatic Capoeira moves that looked like it would put him in the hospital if he did it wrong, then go out and toy with his opponents like a cat plays with its food.
One of the CA High School State Tournaments I called |
Toughest coach: Now there could be a pretty good list here. Those Boise State coaches seemed to try to get under my skin every stinking time, and I rang them up for penalty points every stinking time. But none tops Paul Keysaw of Fresno City. I cut my teeth on Keysaw's matches, and always felt like a rookie on his mat, even 20 years later, so I went out of my way to act like I wasn't intimidated. Keysaw has the best one line insults in the game, and most times you were just glad they were directed at other refs!
Funnest environment: Stanford at Cal Baptist, on an outside platform with over 2600 in attendance to set the outdoor record. Which Iowa beat by having one in their football stadium before a football game. The wrestlers, coaches and fans at Cal Baptist are the absolute nicest anywhere.
I should probably seek help for this pointing habit. |
Most interesting wrestler: Anthony Robles. Born with one leg, he had a roll through tilt that he could hit from anywhere. It was funny how early on, he was someone that people looked at as an inspiration. By the end of his career, opponents not only failed to see his disability, but were complaining that he had the advantage of the body of a 157 pounder while competing at 125. The kid was impressive.
Most intimidating wrestler: Cain Velasquez of Arizona State, former UFC heavyweight champ. He seems like a nice guy and family man during interviews today, but I hit him for stalling once, just once. That is the only time I thought an athlete might come after me and do some damage, and he looked like he had enough crazy in him to do it. I might have let him stall after that.
Last event: NAIA National Championships, with my good buddy Art Lomelli. |
One of the coaches, Vince Silva at Santa Ana College, asked me what I am going to do with all my free time now.
Hmmm, I will have to think of something . . .
I'm sure you will be missed by the wrestling community. I know we always enjoyed you refereeing Matt. Thanks for all the years of dedication to an extremely hard job but what great memories and what a great wrestling family you now have.
ReplyDeleteI chirped at you many times - you were a good ref, enjoy you retirement - I know I am enjoying mine.
ReplyDelete